Background: Nasal septal deviation (NSD) is a frequent complaint among patients in an otolaryngology clinic. The prevalence of NSD varies in different populations and NSD classification schemes are complex. Methods: We aimed to determine the prevalence of NSD in a population of Turkish young males using a new NSD classification method that we developed. We compared the results with patients' complaints. All patients underwent two nasal examinations, which were performed using a nasal speculum with and without administration of vasoconstrictor agents. Inferior Concha Hypertrophy (ICH) was evaluated in the first examination and NSDs were scored during the second examination. All findings were recorded according to our classification scheme. Severity of nasal obstruction was subjectively evaluated by using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: We found a significant association between prevalence of NSD and nasal injuries, but there was no association between the mode of delivery and prevalence of NSD. Surprisingly, about 30 % of the participants with NSD had no complaint of nasal obstruction. Although most of the participants in the study had no severe nasal obstruction complaint, we found an association between NSD presence and patient's VAS. Conclusion: NSD is very frequent in the Turkish population and most often related to trauma; however, its effect on patient quality of life varies.

Poster Presentations P259 POSTERSMethod: Thirty-two patients with recurrent nasal polyps and 30 patients without recurrence of nasal polyp (non-recurrent) after surgery were collected. Inferior turbinate mucosa obtained from 31 patients without chronic rhinosinusitis were used as controls. Two promoter functional single nucleotide polymorphisms were selected. Tissue samples were frozen for immunohistohemistry. Results:The expression of MMP-9 was significantly enhanced in gland, but not in surface epithelium, for recurrent nasal polyp (P = .016) and non-recurrent nasal polyp (P = .005) compared with the control. MMP-2 positivity was significantly increased in surface epithelium, but not in gland, for recurrent nasal polyp (P = .004), and a trend toward significance for non-recurrent nasal polyp compared to the control. However, there was no statistically significant difference of MMP-9 and -2 expressions between recurrent nasal polyp and non-recurrent nasal polyp. The genetic polymorphism of MMP-2 and -9 functional promoters was not associated with the intensity of immunohistochemical labeling index. Conclusion:These results suggested up-regulation of MMP-9 in gland and MMP-2 in surface epithelium were characteristic of both recurrent nasal polyp and non-recurrent nasal polyp. The pathogenesis of recurrent nasal polyps may involve a mechanism other than MMP.

Objective: Studies have shown that nasopharyngeal airway diseases, such as obstructive sleep apnea, are closely associated with cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is any impact of septoplasty operation on QTc dispersion (QTcD) in patients with nasal septum deviation. Method: This study included 28 young deviated nasal septum patients. All patients underwent septoplasty. The QT interval, the heart rate-corrected QT, and the QT dispersion were calculated digitally using computerized electrocardiograms (ECG) by Holter ECG. Heart rates, QT intervals, QTc, and QTcD values were compared preoperatively and one-month postoperatively. Results: QTcD was measured 62.9 ± 7.9 in young patients with nasal septal deviation. While there was no significant change in ECG QT interval periods obtained from the patients taken after the procedure (354.8 ± 25.7 and 360 ± 25.4, P > .05), there was a significant decrease in QTc values (398 ± 22.9 and 383.7 ± 21.2, P = .013 [<0.05]), and there was a significant decrease in QTcD values (62.9 ± 7.9 and 45.7 ± 6.7, P = .000). In addition, heart rates were significantly decreased after surgery (76.5 ± 13.2 and 67.4 ± 10.4, P = .007). Conclusion: In our study, QTcD values were increased in young patients with nasal septal deviation. High QTcD value indicates increased heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization. Septoplasty is important for young people with nasal deviations to provide improvement of QTc dispersion. Nasopharyngeal airway diseases have negative effects on myocardial repolarization.

therapeutic effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of EGCG in inhibiting HGF induced tumor growth and invasion of oral cancer in vitro and in vivo. METHOD: We examined the effect of EGCG on HGF-induced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, induction of apoptosis, and modulation of HGF/c-Met signaling pathway in KB oral cancer cell line. We investigated the antitumor effect and the inhibition of c-Met expression by EGCG in a syngeneic mouse model (C3H/HeJ mice, SCC VII/SF cell line). RESULTS: HGF promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and induction of MMP-2 and 9 in KB cells. EGCG significantly inhibited HGF-induced phosphorylation of Met as well as cell growth, invasion, and expression of MMP-2 and 9. EGCG blocked HGF-induced phosphorylation of c-Met as well as of the downstream kinases, AKT and ERK and inhibition of p-AKT and p-ERK by EGCG was associated with marked increases in the phosphorylation of p38, JNK, cleaved caspase-3, and PARP. In C3H/HeJ syngeneic mice, as an in vivo model, tumor growth was suppressed and apoptosis was increased by EGCG. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that EGCG may be a potential therapeutic agent to inhibit HGF-induced tumor growth and invasion in oral cancer. Evaluation of Fluoxetine Treatment on Facial Nerve HealingHakan Cincik, MD (presenter); Mustafa Guens, MD; Salim Dogru, MD; Atila Gungor, MD; Engin Cekin, MD OBJECTIVE: BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), an important neurotrophic factor, accelerates healing of the nerve injury. Many studies have been showed antidepressant treatment induces BDNF levels. In our study, an experimental facial nerve crush injury in rats model was created, and effect of fluoxetine treatment on serum BDNF level and on facial nerve healing were investigated by EMG. METHOD: Thirty-eight rats were allocated for this study. Group E consisted of six rats, that did not have any injury or treatment. Rest of the rats were divided into four groups as each group had 8 rats. Temporary facial nerve crush injury was performed in Group A, B, C and D. Trunk of the facial nerve was temporarily injured by crushing with the standard vascular clamp for 40 minutes. Groups C, D and E were not treated with any drug. Fluoxetin (at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day) was injected intraperitoneally for 7 days in Group A, for 28 days in Group B. EMG evaluation of facial nerve was performed at 7th day in Groups A and C, at 28th day in Group B and D. Latencies and amplitudes of the groups were compared with each other. In addition, serum samples were taken from the groups for the measurement of BDNF level. RESULTS: When BDNF levels were compared between rats with facial nerve injury (Group A, B, C, D) and rats with no injury (Group E), statistically significant decrease of serum BDNF levels was noted, approximately 1 / 3 ratio. Statistical significantly increase of BDNF level was not seen in rats serum after fluoxetine treatment in Group A (7 days) and B (28 days). Fluoxetine did not effect statistical significantly latans value in EMG study of group B, ...